The perfect place to make a splash: Warnemünde beach

The beach at Rostock-Warnemünde is a highlight of this Baltic resort. Awarded the blue flag for the high quality of its water (for swimming etc.), the beach stretches for around 15 kilometres and is more than 100 metres wide in some places. The beaches in Warnemünde and Markgrafenheide consist of fine sand, while the beaches around Wilhelmshöhe and Diedrichshagen are more rugged in character. With family beaches and sections set aside for nudists and people with dogs, there's plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves. Windsurfers benefit from a dedicated area offering easy access to the water.

The call of the sea: the Baltic resort of Warnemünde and its harbour

The spectacular views of Warnemünde harbour with the ships coming in and out are enough to make any trip to this beautiful old Baltic resort a memorable one – and that's before we even get to the sailing regattas. Warnemünde is home to AIDA cruises, which operates one of the world's most modern and exclusive cruise fleets from the resort's harbour. Perhaps not quite so luxurious, yet all the more exciting for it is the 'Stettin' – the world's oldest ice-breaker, which regularly drops anchor in Warnemünde. If you get there at the right time, you can even climb aboard and take to the high seas on this veteran vessel – a maritime experience to remember!

Going green at the IGA Park

The park on the site of the International Garden Show in Rostock is not only renowned for its impressive size. Naturally the park has plenty of greenery, colourful flowers, waterways and trees. However, the site is also home to a number of absorbing attractions such as the Shipbuilding and Maritime Museum, the open-air maritime exhibition and a 'green classroom'. Other highlights include the Willow Dome. Made from willow trees and other natural materials, this is the world's largest living construction.

Charming Warnemünde: Vörreeg and Achtereeg

Up until the 19th century, Warnemünde only had two roads with houses on them: the Vörreeg (front row) and the Achtereeg (back row), both running parallel to the Alter Strom canal. Today, the Vörreeg is known as Am Strom, and the Achtereeg is called Alexandrinenstrasse. With its cafés, bars, ice-cream parlours and boutiques, the Vörreeg is an excellent place to enjoy a relaxing afternoon or evening. Those looking for a quieter, more refined atmosphere should head for Alexandrinenstrasse. Lined with pretty little fishermen's huts and captains' cottages, the street has become a popular promenade along the water's edge.

Shipbuilding and Maritime Museum in the IGA Park

The Shipbuilding and Maritime Museum

in Rostock is housed on a former cargo ship. Here you can see what a large container ship looks like from the inside, inspect the engine room with its four main motors, and take a look at the sailors' quarters, ship's bridge or ship's hospital. This heritage-listed 10,000-tonne cargo ship is moored in the IGA Park on the banks of the river Warnow. The onboard exhibition traces the history of Baltic Sea shipbuilding but also covers hydroplanes, oceanography and sailing.